Senior Policy Affairs and Communications Manager

PU Europe

About the Organisation

PU Europe is the Brussels-based association that speaks for the polyurethane (PUR/PIR) insulation industry in Europe. Founded in 1981 under the name BING, it brings together twelve national trade associations and the raw material suppliers and component manufacturers that serve the sector, drawn from eleven countries across the continent.

It is the only organisation in which the whole polyurethane insulation value chain, from chemical producers to national manufacturers’ associations, sits at one table to develop a shared position on EU policy. Polyurethane insulation is used in infrastructure of all kinds, but its most important application is the thermal insulation of buildings and technical installations.

Over the past decade, the material has grown from a few percentage points to around 10 per cent of a steadily expanding European insulation market, and the association points to more than 110 manufacturing sites and some 20,000 direct jobs in the industry it represents. PU Europe’s mission is to secure the conditions at European level for that growth to continue sustainably. It does so by monitoring legislative developments, forming industry positions and engaging EU decision-makers with sound technical expertise, backed by independent research that absorbs a substantial share of its budget.

The association’s work spans energy efficiency and building renovation, sustainable construction, construction products, health and environment, REACH and standardisation. Its current priorities include the sustainability and circularity of construction products, lifecycle assessment and environmental product declarations, and the implementation of the new Construction Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/3110), published in December 2024, together with the harmonised standards developed through CEN that will give it effect.

PU Europe argues for a single, holistic European approach to assessing the environmental performance of buildings rather than a patchwork of national schemes, and works closely with partner associations through the European Insulation Platform (with Eurima, Exiba and EUMEPS), the Construction 2050 Alliance and the wider Brussels construction community.

PU Europe is governed by a Board of twelve directors, half nominated by the national trade associations and half by the raw material suppliers, under the presidency of Andreas Huther of IVPU, Germany. Its technical work runs through three permanent committees, on technical matters, on safety, health and environment, and on marketing and promotion, each of which can set up task groups on current issues. A Secretariat of three in Brussels, led by Secretary General Arnaud Duvielguerbigny, runs the work programme. It is a close-knit team in which every member carries real responsibility.

About the role

PU Europe is looking for a (Senior) Policy Affairs and Communications Manager to follow and influence EU policy on the sustainability and circularity of construction products, to help run the association’s working groups, and to take ownership of its external communications. Reporting to the Secretary General, the Manager will be the policy-capable member of a three-person Secretariat.

Roughly four days a week will go to policy and association work: monitoring and analysing EU developments, drafting positions and briefings, coordinating members in working groups and representing the industry in Brussels and in standardisation forums. The remaining day, at present, will go to communications, above all PU Europe’s LinkedIn presence and its relations with stakeholders, an area the association wants to do properly again after the departure of the colleague who partly covered it. The balance may shift over time as the Manager grows into the role.

This is a post for someone relatively early in their career who writes very well, learns quickly and wants to build real expertise in one of the industries at the heart of Europe’s energy and climate agenda. Sector knowledge can be acquired on the job. What cannot be taught is curiosity, a proactive mindset and the ability to produce work to a high standard without close supervision. In return, PU Europe offers a position with flexible working conditions that support a good work-life balance, occasional travel in Europe, and the chance to be visible, trusted and influential from the start.

Responsibilities

Policy and Public Affairs:

• Monitor, analyse and report on EU policy developments affecting construction products, with a particular focus on sustainability and circularity: product sustainability and ecodesign, lifecycle assessment and environmental product declarations, and the implementation of the new Construction Products Regulation.
• Draft briefings, position papers and consultation responses that convey the industry’s messages clearly and persuasively to decision makers in the Commission, the European Parliament and the Member States.
• Represent PU Europe towards the European institutions and in the alliances, platforms and stakeholder groups of the Brussels construction sector.
• Represent the industry at European standardisation meetings, working alongside PU Europe’s technical and standardisation consultants.
• Follow the association’s research projects and turn their findings into arguments that members and policymakers can use.

Member Engagement and Working Groups:

• Coordinate PU Europe’s internal working groups and committees: prepare agendas and papers, record outcomes and follow through on agreed actions.
• Help members with differing interests, by country and by position in the value chain, to reach agreed industry positions.
• Support the Secretary General in internal meetings and in the day-to-day running of a small Secretariat.

Communications:

• Take ownership of PU Europe’s external communications, with LinkedIn as the main channel: plan and draft regular posts, keep the page active and build engagement with the association’s audience.
• Produce news items, website updates and other external content, making good use of outside suppliers and digital tools to polish and extend what a small team can do.
• Maintain and develop relationships with stakeholders and partner organisations in the Brussels construction community.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience & Expertise:

• Around three years of experience in EU affairs, in a trade association, consultancy, company, EU institution or a business environment related to sustainability. PU Europe is open to someone with a little less experience who can demonstrate the ability to grasp the work and step up quickly.
• A working understanding of how EU legislation is made and implemented, including the role of delegated and implementing acts and of European standards.
• Familiarity with sustainability and circularity concepts, including the basics of lifecycle assessment such as cradle-to-gate analysis.
• Knowledge of the construction or insulation industry and of the
• European standardisation system is an advantage, not a requirement; a candidate who understands the concepts and wants to learn can move from another sector.
• Excellent written English. This is the clearest quality bar for the role.

Personal Qualities:

• Genuine curiosity and a desire to learn, improve and develop within the organisation.
• A proactive, well-organised way of working and the versatility to move between policy analysis, meeting coordination and communications in a small team.
• A confident communicator, comfortable with social media and with representing the association in person.
• Strong attention to detail and sound judgement about what matters to members.
• Another EU language is an advantage.
• Manager’s internal and external output should need little editing

Required Qualifications

• A university degree in political science, European studies, law, environmental science or an equivalent professional qualification.

Conditions of employment

• Applicants must be eligible to work in Belgium.

Working locations

• Brussels, Belgium

How to apply

• To apply, please send a motivation letter and a copy of your CV to Nadine Heikamp, Partner, [email protected] or Natalia Kurop, Managing Partner, M: +32 488 945 579, [email protected]

Interviews

• Dober Partners has been retained to draw up a shortlist of prospective candidates against the criteria set out in this document and, using their discretion and expertise, to help recruit the new (Senior) Policy Affairs and Communications Manager together with the Secretary General of PU Europe. Given the importance the association attaches to the quality of written English, shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short written exercise; a first interview with Dober Partners will explore policy aptitude, motivation and fit, and a second interview with the Secretary General will go into more depth on the areas needing further investigation.

Policies

All applications and approaches are treated in strict confidence. PU Europe will use personal data only for this recruitment, in line with its data privacy policy.

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